Gross Margin – Gross margin for the three months ended February 29, 2020 increased to 55.1% as compared to 37.1% for the three months ended February 28, 2019, primarily due to an inventory reserve adjustment in Q3 FY19, better pricing from vendors and improved pricing in the Xact business line. Gross margin for the nine months ended February 29, 2020 increased to 45.6% as compared to 39.0% for the nine months ended February 28, 2019, primarily due to a favorable product mix shift.
Operating Expenses – Operating expenses increased $203,720, or 24.5%, to $1,035,322 for the three months ended February 29, 2020 from $831,602 for the three months ended February 28, 2019, primarily due to stock-based compensation recognized as a result of vesting of price-dependent RSUs. Operating expenses increased $382,526, or 15.7%, to $2,818,187 for the nine months ended February 29, 2020 from $2,435,661 for the nine months ended February 28, 2019, primarily due to an increase in stock-based compensation expense.
Other Income (Expense) – Other income (expense) consists of interest income, interest expense, foreign currency exchange gain (loss) and other income (expense). Interest income was $37,614 for the three months ended February 29, 2020 as compared to $4,566 for the three months ended February 28, 2019. Fluctuations in interest income are impacted by the levels of our average cash and investment balances and changes in interest rates. Interest expense was $0 for the three months ended February 29, 2020 as compared to $8,523 for the three months ended February 28, 2019. Interest income was $47,298 for the nine months ended February 29, 2020 as compared to $18,874 for the nine months ended February 28, 2019. Fluctuations in interest income are impacted by the levels of our average cash and investment balances and changes in interest rates. Interest expense was $2,435 for the nine months ended February 29, 2020 as compared to $8,985 for the nine months ended February 28, 2019. Other income was $151,645 for the three months ended February 29, 2020 as compared to $11 for the three months ended February 28, 2019, the increase primarily due to rental income. Other income was $154,656 for the nine months ended February 29, 2020 as compared to $33 for the nine months ended February 28, 2019, the increase primarily due to rental income.
The foreign currency exchange gain and loss fluctuates with the strength of foreign currencies against the U.S. dollar during the respective periods. Foreign currency exchange loss was $2,041 for the three months ended February 29, 2020 as compared to foreign currency exchange loss of $1,512 for the three months ended February 28, 2019. Foreign currency exchange loss was $3,168 for the nine months ended February 29, 2020 as compared to foreign currency exchange loss of $2,605 for the nine months ended February 28, 2019.
Income Taxes – The effective tax rate for continuing operations for the three months ended February 29, 2020 was 1.7%. The effective tax rate for the three months ended February 28, 2019 was (0.5%). The effective tax rate for the nine months ended February 29, 2020 was 1.0%. The effective tax rate for the nine months ended February 28, 2019 was (0.6%). The effective tax rate on consolidated net income for the three and nine months ended February 29, 2020 and 2018 differs from the federal statutory tax rate primarily due to changes in the deferred tax valuation allowance and the impact of certain expenses not being deductible for income tax reporting purposes.
Net Income (Loss) – Net loss was $(240,277), or $(0.06) per fully diluted share, for the three months ended February 29, 2020 compared to net loss of $(423,963), or $(0.11) per fully diluted share, for the three months ended February 28, 2019. Net loss was $(1,061,461), or $(0.29) per fully diluted share, for the nine months ended February 29, 2020 compared to net loss of $(1,058,660), or $(0.26) per fully diluted share, for the nine months ended February 28, 2019.
Income from Discontinued Operations, Including Gain on Sale, Net of Tax –On November 22, 2019, we sold the net assets of our SBS business. The gain on the sale of this business together with the earnings from these discontinued operations, net of tax, totaled $109,107 and $5,695,137 for the three and nine months ended February 29, 2020, respectively. This compares to the earnings (loss) from these discontinued operations of $(51,226) and $116,382 from the three and nine months ended February 28, 2019, respectively.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Company’s working capital increased $4,316,313 to $11,586,230 as of February 29, 2020 as compared to $7,269,917 as of May 31, 2019.
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash increased $9,496,820 to $10,964,255 as of February 29, 2020 from $1,467,435 as of May 31, 2019. As of February 29, 2020, there is $153,508 held for use in the stock buy back program. The primary reason for this increase was the proceeds received from the SBS Transaction. Cash generated by operating activities from continuing operations totaled $221,044 for the nine months ended February 29, 2020 as compared to cash used for operating activities from continuing operations of $(1,285,590) for the nine months ended February 28, 2019.
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